10 Types of Diamond Cuts/Shapes Explained

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. But besides carat, what else do you know about them? To assess the quality of a diamond, the 4C system is used universally. The 4Cs are Colour, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight. Today, we’re exploring not colour, clarity or carat, but the cut of a diamond. Without further ado, here are the 10 most common types of diamond cuts!

Before we begin, here are a few vocab words that will help you better understand the brilliant world of diamonds:

Cut: The proportions, finish, symmetry, and polish of a diamond, which in turn determine the intensity and brilliance of the diamond. A diamond’s cut can imply its shape.

Facet: A flat surface on the geometric shape of a diamond

Brilliant cut: A particular form of cut with numerous facets, shaped like a cone and provides maximised light return through the top of the diamond

Step cut: A particular form of cut which has parallel facets

1) Round

The brilliant round cut is the most popular cut among all, and makes up about 75% of all the diamonds sold. Specifically designed to wow, the brilliant round diamond allows for proper reflection of light, maximising potential brightness. Considered by many to be the classic diamond cut, brilliant round diamonds have 58 facets. However, if you want something truly spectacular, try the Gassan 121 diamond! It has, as you may have guessed, 121 facets.

Image Credit: langantiques.com

2) Oval

A modified version of the brilliant round cut, the oval cut maintains a classic appearance, but with a modern twist. Due to its elongated shape, it creates an illusion of a bigger size. If an oval cut diamond is set in a ring, it can make the fingers appear longer too! Furthermore, oval cut diamonds are easy to match with other jewellery, so you can stack on the bling in various styles!

Image Credit: weddbook.com

3) Marquise

Yet another modified version of the brilliant round cut, the marquise cut is similar to the oval cut, except that it has pointed ends. Careful though, these pointed ends may be prone to chipping! The marquise cut is the largest of all cuts, and is perfect for those who want to make a statement with their bling. As if it wasn’t showy enough, its long and narrow shape also makes it look bigger than it really is, and enhances the length and slenderness of the hands and fingers.

Image Credit: thejewelleryeditor.com

4) Pear/Teardrop

As its name implies, this cut shapes the diamond into a pear/teardrop. A combination of the round and marquise cuts, the pear cut diamond should be in perfect symmetry, one of the most important aspects of a pear cut. Soft, delicate and flirty, the pear cut is designed to produce maximum brilliance. With the pear cut, you’ll get the brilliance of a round cut, as well as the finger-slimming quality of the marquise cut.

Image Credit: diamondandgoldwarehouse.com

5) Emerald

Compared to the cuts above, the emerald cut is completely different, largely due to its step cuts. Instead of a sparkle, twinkling effect, emerald cut diamonds produce a hall-of-mirrors effect. For those who appreciate old-world glamour and class, the emerald cut diamond is for you. The ultimate vintage cut, the emerald cut’s best quality isn’t its brilliance, but its lustre instead.

Image Credit: ajaffe.com

6) Asscher

The Asscher cut was created in 1902 by the Asscher brothers in Netherlands. It is often confused with the emerald cut, but Asscher cut diamonds are square instead of rectangular, and has larger step facets than the emerald cut. The structure of the diamond itself is different from the emerald cut, resulting in more brilliance. Although largely considered to be the forerunner of the emerald cut, the Asscher cut is resurfacing in popularity again, increasingly being known as a “vintage cut with a modern flair”.

Image Credit: mineralogydesign.com

7) Princess

The princess cut is a wildly popular choice for engagement rings, and quite rightly so, for which girl doesn’t want to feel like a princess when she’s being proposed to? Available in both square and rectangular shapes, princess cut diamonds are exceptionally brilliant, yet stylish and delicate. Even the way its colour is emitted is unique: diamonds usually show colour only in the centre, but princess cuts show colour even in the corners as well!

Image Credit: jeenjewels.com

8) Cushion

The cushion cut is a square or rectangular diamond, but with rounded corners. Also considered as one of the classic diamond cuts, the cushion cut has been around for about 2000 years. Apparently, it was the most popular diamond cut during the first century of its existence! With its rounded, softened edges, the cushion cut has the potential to exude romanticism.

Image Credit: fasqu.com

9) Radiant

Just by its name, you can already guess that the radiant cut emits a fierce sparkle. Complex and innovative, the radiant cut is the first rectangular cut to have brilliant-cut facets applied on the whole diamond! The combination of emerald-cut lines and round-cut brilliance, a vibrant, lively, radiant diamond is born. If you’re looking for something truly unique, the radiant cut is definitely for you!

Image Credit: bbbgem.com

10) Heart

For hardcore romantics, this is your only selection, because nothing expresses your love more than a heart-shaped diamond! Usually set in solitaire pendants and rings, you want to make sure your heart cut diamond is perfectly symmetrical, just like the pear cut. With this heart cut, no one will mistake your intention for anything else other than love!

Image Credit: jared.com

Ladies, do you have a favourite diamond cut? Tag your man in the comments below so he can get a hint! 😉